St. Marys council adopts 12‑month moratorium on data‑center conversions, approves supplemental appropriations and service agreement

The St. Marys City Council on June 30 adopted Resolution 20 26 08 imposing a temporary 12‑month moratorium on converting existing structures into data centers so the city administration and council can review applicable federal codes, Ohio statutes and the city's codified ordinances.

Chair read the resolution, describing it as "a temporary moratorium on the establishment conversion of other structures or buildings into the data center, including the development and construction of any building ... for a period of 12 months" to allow time for code review. The resolution passed with one abstention by Mr. Golan and the remaining members voting in favor.

In the same meeting the council approved Ordinance 20 26 07, a third‑reading ordinance authorizing execution of an agreement with Clemens Nelson and Associates for employee relations work. Mr. Bupp moved to approve and Mr. Fitzgerald seconded; Chair called the vote and the council recorded unanimous approval.

The council also moved on Ordinance 20 26 09, a series of supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2026. Fitzgerald, reporting for the Finance Committee, said the committee had reviewed 19 supplemental requests totaling roughly $274,009.53, with the largest items identified as a refuse truck and construction work at the Veterans Museum. Director of Public Service and Safety Fox summarized the largest entries, saying the "biggest ones were the contributions to the museum, as well as the purchase of the garbage truck out of the general fund because we didn't have adequate funding in the solid waste fund." He identified other line items including about $9,500 for CAD training and roughly $29,000 for repairs to a roof at the landfill's old building.

Council members discussed procedure before final passage, voted to suspend the rules for emergency consideration and then approved the ordinance. Director Fox clarified that the truck is a lease‑purchase: "we are leasing it, but our lease payments go towards the purchase of it." He also explained legal‑fee charges related to a municipal building arbitration would be allocated across multiple funds.

Also on the agenda, the council read Ordinance 20 26 10, a rezoning request for 0.437 acres between Lane Street and Perry Street; the planning commission held a public hearing with no opposition and the ordinance will return for a second reading at the next meeting.

What happens next: under the resolution's emergency language the moratorium takes effect immediately to allow staff and council to complete their review; the administration is expected to report back to council as it evaluates applicable codes and any recommended changes to local ordinances. Supplementals approved in Ordinance 20 26 09 will be incorporated into the 2026 appropriations as directed by the ordinance.